A Levin woman has been banned from owning dogs for five years, after her lowland Polish sheep dogs were found with coats so matted they could not stand up straight.

The SPCA raided the home of Janette Smith in June this year, after a complaint about her animals.

The complainant said the dogs were living in unsanitary conditions and their coats were matted.

SPCA lead investigator Danny Auger said the woman owned lowland Polish sheep dogs and border collies, and some dogs' coats were so matted they were unable to stand up properly.

"It would have been extremely uncomfortable for them," Mr Auger said.

They were also living in their own filth, he said.

SPCA staff confiscated five of the dogs and took them to a vet.

Mr Auger said the dogs' coats were in such a bad state, they had to be sedated before they could be shaved to ensure they would not feel any pain. The vet said the dogs had probably not been groomed in at least six months, and possibly as long as a year, he said.

Smith was charged with seven separate counts under the Animal Welfare Act, and was sentenced in the Levin District Court this week.

She was sentenced to 250 hours of community work and compelled to forfeit all her dogs to the SPCA.

She was also ordered to pay reparation of $6613, and banned from owning or having control of dogs for five years.